Rong Xu stood watching from where he was, not stopping them, the corners of his mouth curving into an extremely faint arc.
This Third Master Jiang’s self-control… isn’t all that impressive after all.
Seems like I’ll have to make Pei Shuyi treat me to a meal another day.
Inside Jiang Congli’s private room, the moment the door closed behind them, Pei Shuyi was immediately pressed against the wooden door.
The sound of her back hitting the door was muffled, and before she could even register the pain, his body was already pressing against hers.
One hand braced beside her ear, the other still gripping her wrist, not letting go.
Jiang Congli’s height enveloped her entirely in his shadow, the light blocked completely by him. Her world suddenly narrowed to just the sandalwood scent on him and his warm breath, so close she could feel it.
“Jiang Congli, you—”
“What did you call me?” His voice was low, so low it seemed to grind out from the deepest part of his throat, carrying a hoarseness she had never heard before.
Pei Shuyi looked into his eyes.
In those unfathomable depths, something she had never seen before was churning—scorching yet restrained.
“Jiang Congli,” she said.
He lowered his head, his forehead resting against her shoulder. “I waited for you all day, Shu Yi.”
Suddenly, he uttered this seemingly random sentence, his voice muffled against the hollow of her shoulder, low and indistinct.
Pei Shuyi’s back was pressed against the door, his forehead against her shoulder. The space between them was so small she could feel his heartbeat through the fabric of his clothes.
“I sent you a message,” he added.
Pei Shuyi froze for a moment, remembering that her phone was in Rong Xu’s bag and she hadn’t taken it out to check all day.
She opened her mouth to explain, but as soon as she uttered the word “I,” he lifted his head.
His eyes were so close she could see her own reflection in his pupils.
Jiang Congli looked at her, his gaze shifting from her eyes to the bridge of her nose, then from her nose to her lips, lingering there.
Following his gaze, Pei Shuyi seemed to sense something as well, her breath catching.
“Shu Yi, can I kiss you?”
When he said this, Jiang Congli’s tone held no hint of seeking permission.
He lowered his head, his thin lips landing directly on her forehead.
Slowly, he trailed down along the bridge of her nose, each touch carrying restraint.
He controlled his strength perfectly; if Pei Shuyi felt uncomfortable, she wouldn’t need much effort to push him away.
But even when Jiang Congli paused less than a finger’s width away from her lips, Pei Shuyi offered no resistance.
“Shu Yi…”
“Shu Yi…”
He murmured her name, his hands growing restless, kneading her slender waist with just the right amount of pressure.
Pei Shuyi felt both uncomfortable and restless all over, unable to hold back a soft, delicate moan.
That sound instantly became the spark.
In the next moment, Jiang Congli’s breath fell on her lips—forceful, scorching, and trembling ever so slightly.
“Shu Yi, I can’t wait any longer.”
As his lips descended, Pei Shuyi closed her eyes.
All the anxiety, unease, and possessiveness the man had accumulated throughout the day poured out in that moment.
Jiang Congli’s lips pressed against hers with an undeniable force.
Pei Shuyi, pinned against the door with nowhere to retreat, felt the back of her head cradled firmly in his palm. His other hand remained wrapped around her waist, his knuckles tightening, holding her securely in his embrace.
She was kissed until she could barely catch her breath.
Just as she was about to run out of breath, Jiang Congli’s lips moved away from hers, trailing kisses along the corner of her mouth, her jaw, the side of her ear, before finally returning to her lips.
By the time he was done, Pei Shuyi had melted into a puddle in his arms. If he hadn’t been holding her waist, she would have slid right down.
“Jiang Congli…” she called his name, her voice as soft as a kitten’s meow.
His movements paused. He pulled back from her lips, resting his forehead against hers, his scorching breath falling on her face.
His eyes were still red, the turbulent emotions within yet to settle.
“What did you call me?” His voice was hoarse, asking the same question as before.
Pei Shuyi’s lips felt numb from the heat. “Jiang… Congli.”
“Wrong.” His thumb rubbed against the fabric at her waist, neither too light nor too heavy.
“You call him Rong Xu-ge, but you call me Jiang Congli.”
Pei Shuyi looked at the faint redness in his eyes… unsure what had provoked it.
“Congli.”
She called out softly, so lightly it was like a leaf falling onto the surface of a lake.
Jiang Congli’s eyelashes trembled.
Pei Shuyi raised her hands, cupping his face, her thumb gently stroking his Adam’s apple as it bobbed.
The man’s hands were still wrapped around her waist, but the unyielding force from earlier had eased considerably. Yet, with Pei Shuyi’s touch, it tightened once more.
This time, Pei Shuyi stood on her tiptoes and kissed him first.
Jiang Congli closed his eyes, his arms tightening as he pulled her entirely into his embrace.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath.
“Shu Yi, I waited for you all day.” His voice was muffled, coming from the hollow of her shoulder.
“I sent you messages, but from morning until night, I checked my phone dozens of times, and you never replied.”
As Jiang Congli spoke, Pei Shuyi actually thought she heard a hint of grievance in his words.
She ran her fingers through his hair, gently stroking it.
“I’m sorry, my phone was on silent and left in his bag. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”
Since Pei Shuyi had gone to the hospital, she couldn’t bring electronic devices with her for many of the procedures, so she had simply left them with Rong Xu.
She wasn’t someone who usually spent much time on her phone, which was why it was still with Rong Xu.
“Rong Xu is Rong Xu, and you are you. He’s my brother’s friend and also my friend. Don’t overthink it.”
Pei Shuyi explained.
Jiang Congli looked at her, lowering his head until his forehead rested against hers.
Their fingers intertwined, palms pressed together.
“Shu Yi.” He called her name, his voice low and hoarse, his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling.
“He’s your brother’s friend and also your friend. Then what about me? What am I to you?”
Still lightheaded from the kiss, her mind struggled to process his words. Her lips, flushed from the kiss, moved slightly. “What do you mean?”
Jiang Congli looked at her bewildered expression, his heart softening into a puddle.
“Can’t you tell? I’m asking for a title.”
Pei Shuyi couldn’t help but blush at his bluntness.
Didn’t we agree on a two-week probation period?
It’s only been ten days.
Jiang Congli didn’t press her, but his thumb kept gently stroking the back of her hand and her waist.
Nor did he stop speaking, continuously calling her name, “Shu Yi,” “Shu Yi.”
As if he wouldn’t stop until she gave in.
Pei Shuyi simply couldn’t resist his tricks. She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: “You’re really annoying. We agreed on half a month, and now you’re breaking the rules.”
“Because I’m afraid someone else will take you away.”
The words carried a hidden meaning.
Suddenly, Pei Shuyi understood why Qin Zhi had once told her that men become completely unreasonable when they’re jealous.
Even though she had just explained that Rong Xu was a friend, Jiang Congli clearly didn’t see it that way.
But to her surprise, Pei Shuyi found she didn’t resent Jiang Congli’s boldness today.
Perhaps it was because today, she had sensed a different side of his emotions.
So he could get anxious too.
Seeing that Pei Shuyi in his arms showed no intention of resisting, Jiang Congli took advantage of her still being dazed from the earlier kiss and said:
“Will you go out with me, baby?”